Wind & Wire Magazine
There are times that being a reviewer of music can be a real treat.
Hearing for the first time the work of a budding artist like Brannan Lane
is such a time. "Caribbean Dream" is the debut release of a promising
new star who shows an amazing amount of maturity and innovative
talent.
The CD begins with an uptempo reggae-flavored "Welcome," which is
heavy on steel drums and island rhythms. But lest you think this album
is just another export from the West Indies, the listener is quickly thrust
into the heart of the "Rain Forest," where bird calls intermixed with flute
and the insistent drumming of Latin bongos has us ready to undo the
second button of our shirt and don a straw hat.
Fourteen more tunes run the gamut, from foot-stomping samba rhythms
to ultra-serene ambience. Lane seems equally comfortable creating
minimalist renderings such as "Rainbow Sky," the incredibly lush
"Caribbean Sea," the rollicking "St. Tom Tom," "No Hurry, No
Problem" (which has been receiving airplay on the Internet, at
www.daypub.com, and I've come to feel is Lane's "signature piece"),
"Fire Dance," which is a straight up-and-down drum-and-flute piece, and
the hypnotic "Market Sq."
Despite the emphasis on rhythm instruments, there is a sense relaxation
embedded, as though one could share in the exhuberance without ever
leaving the beach lounger. Lane plays all the instruments, except for the
saxophone (on "Rasta Pasta") and flute (on "St. Tom Tom"), which are
provided by Stan Lane, Brannan's father!
Production values are high as well. Listeners who settle in for a leisurely
hour will be rewarded with a surprising blend of stereo channel
cross-overs and atmospheric effects. Grab your headphones, folks!
Making predictions is always bad practice for a music reviewer, but in
this case I feel comfortable in saying that more will be heard from
Brannan Lane. Not only is a new CD, tentatively titled Blueprint due
out some time in 2000, Lane is also hard at work on a CD geared very
strongly toward the space music field, and early impressions display a
depth of creative skill surprising in a talent that thus far has been
relatively unknown. The extreme irony in the music business is that far
lesser talents achieve prominence through big-budget marketing
departments while deserving musicians go unheard.
You will note that I've not made any comparisons to other musicians of
prominence, and that omission is on purpose. Brannan Lane is one of
those musicians who create a unique sound, and whatever issues from
their creative minds bears this stamp. This was evidenced when I first
heard his music playing on daypub.com. I stopped working because I
just knew that I'd heard this music before! Whether Lane is creating
complex jungle rhythms or space ambience, it's truly "Brannan Lane
music."
I've carried this CD with me on my travels. I've taken it to North
Carolina, Florida, New Jersey and even Switzerland. It's been a welcome
relief in my hotel rooms, whenever I've wanted a "Caribbean Dream."
- Fred Puhan
Jazz Magazine
A soft jingling of vibes, a holiday feeling, a kind of Christmas mood,
a melting expectation of something new, a light sadness, and memories...
All of this is apparent in the Brannan Lane’s music. His jazz, swing
sound contains a portion of hooliganism, starting with the first
accords of the composition "Resurrection." It is followed by an even
more spontaneous and relaxed "Blueprint" with birdsong accenting his
continuing riff. I would define the album as a refined jazz hooliganism. This music enjoys one more important property - it is light and deep at the same time. It is like a sage’s smile, containing bottomless sadness, being an inseparable other side of joy...
"Blue By U" is a fresh, exalting melody with a guitar solo, refined brass and rhythmic percussion.
"Your Bluness" is a soft flirt, a romantic dance, a tender touch and the
dark, bright eyes of the beloved.
Brannan Lane’s music is transfused by nostalgia. It has a special
old-fashioned charm. This album is dedicated to the memory of Stan Lane - Brannan’s father.
"Santa Fe Blues" gives us elegant guitar fantasies. "Poltergeist" is a
jazz tending to ambient, with mysterious noises. This composition
reminded me the music of the famous experimenter Richard Bone.
"Miss You" features energetic rhythms, experimental and sophisticated
arranging. "Spirit Pool" is a melody of mourning, which becomes
stronger, deeper, deluges all the space around and envelops you...
"Goodbye" is a sax solo, flying far away. The enshrouding, diaphanous
"Rest In Peace" concludes the album, with its aerial keyboards and
penetrating bells. A transition into another reality, awareness of
death and celebration of life.
One needs to listen to Blueprint very attentively, from beginning to
end to fully enjoy the exalted work of Brannan Lane. It is especially
recommended for fans of Richard Bone.
-Serge Kozlovsky
